Dr. Jackson Drumgoole, Founder of Bridge Builder Communities, has been awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by the AmeriCorps program for his volunteer service and a lifelong commitment to youth and community advancement. This prestigious award is the nation’s highest honor for community service and recognizes Americans who have dedicated more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service to their communities. Dr. Drumgoole was honored during the 2025 Commencement Ceremony of the International School of Champions Theological and Professional Institute in Atlanta, under the leadership of Dr. Sharron J. Brown Myles, PhD.

A decorated veteran, educator, and relentless advocate for vulnerable youth, Dr. Drumgoole leads one of Georgia’s most innovative responses to a statewide crisis facing young adults aging out of foster care - a pipeline to homelessness, unemployment, and incarceration that begins the moment they exit the system without support: the development of the first Bridge Builder Community, a 25-home tiny village designed to provide housing, healing, and hope to young adults transitioning out of foster care.

“This award is not mine alone,” said Dr. Drumgoole. “It belongs to every volunteer, donor, and champion who believes in building bridges, not walls, for our youth. Together, we are the village.”

To honor this national recognition and help overcome a widening funding gap driven by construction cost spikes, Bridge Builders is launching a Echo the Impact Giving Challenge - a one-week giving campaign backed by a $10,000 matching gift from EDC - Electrical Design Consultants. Surging construction costs have widened the gap between vision and reality - intensifying the urgency and placing new strain on a carefully planned budget. From July 7– 13, every dollar donated will be matched – doubling its impact and helping narrow the funding gap created by rising construction costs.

“This national spotlight is a powerful moment to rally support around a dream years in the making,” said Bridge Builder Board Chair Joe Gambill. “We’ve made incredible progress but there’s still critical work ahead to fully realize the vision.”

The Presidential Award Giving Challenge invites supporters to invest in a future where every young adult has the chance to transition from foster care into safe, stable independence.

Join the challenge. Double your impact. Be a bridge builder.

To donate or learn more, visit www.bridgebuildercommunities.org.